Summary
Born in a humble two-room cabin as the fourth of 12 children, Dolly Parton's journey from a small-town girl to a global icon has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. At the tender age of five, Dolly wrote her first song and went on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry when she was only 13. With steadfast support from her uncle, Bill Owens, she pursued her dreams in Nashville and later married her supportive partner, Carl Dean.
Launching her career with Monument Records, Dolly soon gained popularity with her first record, "Hello, I'm Dolly." She later joined Porter Wagoner's show, which led to a series of hits and turning points in her career, including her iconic song "I Will Always Love You." As her fame soared in the 1970s, Dolly made numerous appearances on TV and collaborated with other celebrated artists such as Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris.
Dolly's artistic versatility can be seen in her male-perspective songs, her talents as a multi-instrumentalist, and her foray into films such as "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias." Parton's impact expands beyond music and movies, with her theme park Dollywood and her philanthropic ventures like the Dollywood Foundation. Promoting literacy programs, this foundation has distributed over 204 million books in various countries.
With a music catalog worth around $150 million, Dolly has been nominated for 53 Grammys and won 10 of them. She even holds two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her worldwide appeal is evident in countries like Zimbabwe, where Nelson Mandela requested her song "Jolene" during his imprisonment.
Despite her enormous fame and influence, Dolly has maintained a politically neutral stance throughout her career, only speaking out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" delves into the magnificence of Dolly Parton's life, her artistic triumphs, and her unwavering love from her fans across the globe.
